Bay Pines Veterans Administration Home and Hospital Historic District · Photo: PaulaZZZ · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Bay Pines than in 71% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bay Pines gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #190 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then hurricanes (40%). Flood insurance has paid 97 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Bay Pines’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bay Pines faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Coastal flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Bay Pines’ grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bay Pines, and Bay Pines’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 40%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C #190 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bay Pines’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bay Pines has less expected damage per building than 70% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Bay Pines: $873K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bay Pines flood? Sometimes: 97 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bay Pines, from FEMA’s records: 59.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene50 claims · $2.3M
- Hurricane Milton9 claims · $543K
- The The ’No-Name Storm’3 claims · $5K
Bay Pines isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pinellas County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bay Pines
Disasters that paid out in Bay Pines itself (aid to households or repair grants to Bay Pines), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved9 flood claims paid for it, $543K
- 2017Hurricane Irma14 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances1 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Pinellas County has had 32 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Pinellas County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Bay Pines after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bay Pines archive →Bay Pines and its neighbors
Bay Pines is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Petersburg | C+more damage than 61% | hurricanes | 13,766 |
| Bay Pines | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 97 |
| Seminole | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 162 |
| Madeira Beach | Dmore damage than 86% | coastal flooding | 3,094 |
| West Lealman | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 290 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Bay Pines faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bay Pines
Is Bay Pines at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bay Pines has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #190 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and hurricanes (40%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bay Pines flood?
Flood insurance has paid 97 claims in Bay Pines since 1979, $3.0M in all, or 59.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (50).
Is Bay Pines in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Pinellas County, 19.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Bay Pines?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bay Pines’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bay Pines?
By FEMA money that reached Bay Pines, Hurricane Frances (2004): 1 households applied for aid, $6K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 50 paid, $2.3M.
Is Bay Pines at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Bay Pines’ rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bay Pines.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bay Pines’ residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.